You probably know all about curb appeal. But what do your potential buyers see when they walk in the front door?
Research shows you have as little as 30-90 seconds to make a good first impression. If buyers see grime, clutter and dust when they walk through the front door for a showing, they may decide the house isn’t for them before they have even had a chance to see the property’s best features.
Much has been written about staging a home for sale, but a deep cleaning is just as important. A clean home will give potential buyers that great first impression needed to make a sale. What’s more, cleaning can provide a phenomenal return on your investment.
Get your money back!
If you want to invest a little money into helping the house sell and sell for a higher price, you may want to reconsider the kitchen and bath remodel and look into a deep clean instead. According to a survey, $75 invested in cleaning and de-cluttering can increase a property’s selling price by $1,000-$1,499. That’s more than a 1500% return on the investment!
In addition, cleaning and de-cluttering is the number one improvement strategy recommended by real estate agents. HomeGain surveyed 2,500 realtors and found 98% recommend this strategy.
Stop lowball bidders looking for an easy deal
Cleaning a property can not only increase its selling price, it can also help deter buyers who may waste your time with lowball bids. A dirty house may give buyers the impression the owners aren’t invested in the property and are looking to unload it quickly. Unkempt properties can also invite bids from flippers who are only interested in getting the lowest price possible.
However, a little cleaning and de-cluttering can work wonders in presenting a property that is well-maintained and worth a full-price bid. It’s all in the packaging. If the property for sale is presentable and clean, its seller – with the help of the agent – can get the maximum value.
Maximize your homes first impression exposure
The most practical time for a thorough cleaning is just before the agent snaps pictures or takes virtual tour shots to promote the home online. Don’t wait for the open house or the first showing.
Trends are shifting toward online research before purchasing. The 2013 Digital House Hunt report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), conducted in collaboration with Google, looked at how home shoppers are using digital media.
- 90 percent of home buyers searched online during their home buying process
- Real estate-related searches have grown 253 percent during the past four years.
With a growing number of homes being researched online, it is important to extend that great first impression to potential buyers viewing your house virtually.
Focus on these key areas
While you want to make sure the whole house has been picked up and lightly cleaned, a deep clean of the entire house is generally not needed. However, there are particular areas that deserve special focus.
- Entry points of the home should be of utmost concern. In particular, pay close attention to the floors.
- Living rooms should be organized and cleaned. Getting vacuum lines in pictures helps highlight how clean it is.
- The kitchen and bathrooms are a must for deep cleaning. There should be no cooking odors present, and the faucets should be shined. The bathroom tiles and tub should get a thorough scrubbing.
- Deep clean the carpets. If the carpet is dirty or stained, call in a professional to get the carpets looking new again.
For your sellers, sitting on a home for another month means paying mortgage, taxes and maintenance on the wrong home; the one they are trying to sell. Either contact an Orlando house cleaning service or do the work yourself, but cleaning a home before selling just makes sense!
